Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Boylan.
Hi Jessica, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, you could tell our readers some of your backstory.
Two years ago, during the holidays, my daughters prepared to give their teachers presents. However, they wanted to gift them something special, so I asked if they wanted me to make chocolate-covered apples. They agreed, and my love of creating confections commenced. I experimented with dipped pretzels, rice crispy treats, and marshmallows. Though I had fun creating these sweets, one day, I encountered a YouTube video of a baker in South Korea making beautiful meringue cookies. The cookies ranged from animal-shaped designs to mini Disney characters. I was so intrigued. I had always thought that making meringues would be complicated and that Florida humidity would work against me.
However, after several attempts to find the perfect recipe, oven temperature, etc., I began focusing on creating gourmet meringue cookies. My Colombian mother-in-law was my toughest critic, so the day she told me my meringue cookies were amazing, I knew I had succeeded. From that day, I decided to begin Jessica B. Special Sweets, focusing on meringue cookies. I hope to spread the word about my specialty treats as they melt in your mouth. I started by sharing with friends and family and realized there is a niche for this type of treat. They are gluten and dairy-free, and compared to other treats such as sugar cookies and cake pops, they are low in calories. My meringue cookies also come in different flavors and with different toppings. These are different from your typical treats! I have made meringues with Nutella, Biscoff cookies, coconut, almond, orange extract, pretzels, brownie brittle, and more. Meringue pops (meringues on sticks) are also a beautiful addition to any party or occasion. I can customize any meringue order!
It wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The journey has been a fun one! And I am excited to discover what the future holds for my delicious meringues! I am grateful for the opportunities to be involved in farmers markets such as the Palm Valley Tuesday market in Palm Valley, Ponte Vedra. As a high school teacher, I was allowed to participate during the summer. The vendors at the Palm Valley market taught me so much about working as a small business owner. It takes patience and optimism. I’ve also had to become more proficient in social media, which has been a big learning curve, but I will get there.
Let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
When not making meringues, I teach and advise high school students at The Bolles School in Jacksonville, Florida! I am a Spanish teacher and teach academic English skills to international students. In addition, I am an academic advisor to my incredible international students. I am grateful for my daughters, Lanna and Lily, who are 8 and 10. They make me laugh every day. They taught me to appreciate everything and not take myself too seriously. My amazing husband and I hope that my meringue business is also something they are proud of.
Pricing:
- Seven bags of meringue cookies of various toppings for $35 total (ten cookies in each bag)
- Fourteen bags of meringue cookies for $70
- Twenty-one bags of meringue cookies for $100
- Contact for bulk orders
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jessicabspecialsweets.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicabspecialsweets/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jessicabspecialsweets/
